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2/20/2014 Rocket Ship Ska Trip

It’s “Ska-Re-Mi” as the Ooh salutes Ernest Ranglin to kick off the show, with a 4-song set that culminates in Horace Forbes (backed by Ernie and crew) singing “Gentle On My Mind.” Skatalites sequel the Soul Bros. version Wings of a Dove into “On the Town,” and we take back-to-back “Sea Cruises” with Jackie Edwards and original singer Frankie Ford. Prince Buster turns in a fine, funky 1972 take of “Al Capone,” and Otis Gayle will “Be Around.” When we say hello to Sherwood’s world (and welcome to it, by the way) we paradoxically enough hear Serani Poji bidding a Sweet Strawberry goodbye, Modern Jazz Quartet welcoming a visitor apiece from Mars and Venus, and we have a pair of jazzy, laid-back tunes by the often hypercaffienated Macdonald Duck Eclair. Later, Philly legends MFSB lay on the “TLC.” Want "Actual Proof?" Herbie Hancock’s got it! We also hear from Capsule, Fred Katz and Artie Shaw before it’s Home Stretch time. Once there, Tamara Saric delivers the Lilihip, er, Lollipop, it’s The Sideburns with “Exodus” (part one, btw) and in the 5@5:05, Japan Takes Ska into Space… which, after all, is where it’s lived ever since Tommy McCook named a certain band The Skatalites. Tune in, and stay tuned!